I recently asked a question about Irritable Bowel Syndrome on my Facebook page and received some great responses. I thought I would share here to see if anyone had anything else to add.
“I have a friend suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome and is considering a plant based diet to help. She also is allergic to yeast and thinks that might make eating plant based tricky. Few questions for you: Did any of you have IBS prior to going vegan and if so how did it help, or was there a difference? If you currently are vegan and still suffering from IBS what advice can you offer? Just one more question…can anyone give advice on being vegan and yeast free? Thanks in advance! :)”
Facebook responses:
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Ellie Farrow My partner has IBS before he was vegan, he’s been vegan now for about 12 years and hasn’t suffered from it since -
Ida Way My mum had IBS very bad before going vegan, never a problem now. -
Aimee Brimmer Here are a few recipes. http://yummyplants.com/vegan/yeast-free-recipes/
And this is a pretty good guideline for avoiding yeast in one’s diet. http://www.womentowomen.com/digestionandgihealth/guidelinesforfollowingayeastfreediet.pdf
yummyplants.com
Thanks to Silvia Jacobs for sharing her raw recipe for Mexican Ceviche! Note: i…See More -
Lori Bessette not sure why yeast should be an issue going vegan unless youplan to live on bread and processed foods? Processed foods making going yeast-free tricky. Going raw or just eating naturally is not a yeast issue -
Richa Hingle dont know about ibs.. ricki has a whole blog full of yeast free vegan recipes at dietdessertndogs.com -
Christina Forsythe I was diagnosed with IBS about 3 years before going veg. One of the ways I got it under control without medication (which knocked me on my butt!) was meditation and looking at stress causing people/issues in my life to resolve. The vegan diet definitely helps a lot, but don’t forget to address emotional contributors that can make it worse. I’ve been symptom free (except for when I don’t address emotional stress) for 23 years now. -
Elizabeth Forrest I believe dairy can contribute to IBS symptoms, so cutting that from the diet will probably help -
Valerie Bryant I was diagnosed with IBS last year and was vegetarian at the time. After consulting my doctor, I decided to go vegan and actually, went raw vegan for the first 30 days. It was amazing!! I have never felt better. I would highly recommend that your friend try a raw vegan diet, even if only for a few days, in order to get their system back in check. I’m still vegan and most of the time, eat a high-raw diet. I’ve noticed when I add too many cooked or processed vegan foods that my symptoms will start returning and when this happens, all it takes is a few days of raw eating and juicing to get my system back on track. Also, as other posters have pointed out, people diagnosed with IBS need to try to limit the stress in their lives. Good luck to your friend! -
Velon Jean Savoie I actually don’t know for a fact if I actually had IBS but I truly believe so, I also had my gallbladder removed which made for uncomfortable mornings I haven’t had any issues since going vegan, and as a matter of fact, I had to finish off all the cheese in the house so I made manicotti last night and I have been paying for it all morning. No more dairy for us! -
Megan McCain You know, I have asked myself several times if it’s possible to be allergic to meat. I’m curious to read responses. Maybe this has been part of my troubles too. -
Svetlana Dimitrovska I had IBS and vegan diet improved it. However, oils still made me sick, so I removed oils and it got better. Finally, all my problems disappeared when I went high carb low fat raw vegan. -
Nakita Cobalt I had Ibs and had my gallbladder out. Since switching to an organic non gmo diet I feel so much better-no more Ibs issues and lost over 40 lbs. I wish I would have switched sooner-could have saved my gallbladder perhaps. Also a few years back when my ibs was really bad I ate organic short grain brown rice for about thirty days. Sometimes only with veggies but mainly the rice. My ibs disappeared and I lost about 15 lbs. plant based organic non gmo and mostly glutton free is what I now eat and no more issues. I also make sure there is a variety of colors in my diet to keep it balanced. Green, red,yellow, orange, blue, black ,and white in most every meal. The veggie burgers I make have most of the colors in them. Black beans ,kale, carrots, mushrooms sweet potatoes, corn, corn meal, oatmeal, brown rice. -
Jenny Lea Kays Eat vegan, no sugar, eat as much raw as possible, no gluten, no yeast..Lots of veggies. It could be a Candida issue also. That would explain the yeast allergy. -
Sarah Michelle Rice I was diagnosed with IBS as a kid. I went vegan a year ago for many other reasons, with no expectation that would change. I have no symptoms or any IBS issues: it was an instant improvement! -
Gopi Flick make sure you get enough fiber -
Nakita Cobalt Lots of water too. Very important.
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Steph Kastler Everything I’ve read says dairy and meat are bad for people with IBS (big trigger foods), so going vegan should definitely help. I still had some issues while being vegan, but when I cut out most processed foods and started eating more whole foods I got much better. I almost never have issues anymore. She might have to ease into it. I know too much raw at first was hard for me, but my body got used to it and now I can eat tons of raw stuff with no problem -
Tamar Dick Probiotics are very helpful for controlling IBS. The one that works can be found at your local natural or compounding pharmacy or online: VSL #3…I’ve found with my experience taking 3 capsules 3 times per day brings relief. The dosage can be gradually reduced after a month, depending on relief achieved… -
Jenny Lea Kays I agree probiotics are essential as well as digestive enzymes. DDS Probioplus is excellent probiotic.
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Carol Ann I developed IBS after I had my gallbladder removed 15 years ago. I do think there is a definite connection. I went vegan during the diagnosis of IBS. Cooked veggies are the only way I can digest them and not have a flare-up. Peeled veggies and fruits are best. And be careful on the amounts of food eaten at one time. I also avoid olive oil and any other oils for that matter. I can’t do dairy…even yogurt. Fried foods and sugar are deadly for me. Again, it is a very individualized issue. Everyone is different. Keeping a diary of foods and how you react to them is the only way to narrow it down. Good luck! -
Katie Al Stewart My husband had IBS and after being on a plant based diet for a few weeks it completely cured itself. A year and half later we are still plant based and my constipation is GONE his ibs is GONE!!! If you are eating a whole foods plant based diet being yeast free shouldn’t be a problem. There are quite a few yeast free breads on the market too. Plant based is only as tricky as you make it. If you are trying new recipes every day yes that would be hard. If you stick to staples then it is no more difficult than an omni diet. -
Donna Goehring Seago I lived with IBS as both an omnivore and vegetarian for over 20 years. After switching to a vegan diet two years ago, my symptoms have mostly disappeared. For me, dairy and oil are huge triggers. (It’s interesting to see all the gallbladder comments. I developed gall stones several years after my IBS diagnosis; diet related, probably.) Good luck to your friend! -
Buddy Katz I do not have IBS, but in the last few years, I have developed several food allergies that bring on very unpleasant syptoms. Knowing what I’m sensitive / allergic to, which I’m still discovering, and learning how each is hidden in products by use of alternate names helps greatly.
Being vegan and avoiding soy, my biggest trigger, is difficult, but can be done. I’ve done it for years.
I’m also allergic to barley, oats, bananas, avocados, nuts, citrus, tomatoes, chocolate, corn, and many other foods, most of which I love, but can no longer eat unless I want to feel like crap afterward. And I really don’t like living on massive doses of benadryl.
I’m not allergic to yeast, but I can tell you that candida thrives in an acidic enviornment; as far as I know, most fungi do. So the more alkaline your friend keeps her system, the better off she will be. There are several lists of foods on line that help maintain an alkaline systemic pH. Some are contradictory, but comparing several should give a good idea.
If your friend wants to talk about following a vegan diet while dealing with food allergies, she is welcome to contact me. -
CoreyAnn Kneebis Ostrowsky I did but not anymore because i was told by my naturopath i had a gluten sensitivity and as soon as i cut that out i was cured as well as a few other problems -
Melissa Radel-Bailey I was diagnosed with IBS years ago and medication didnt do much to help. I just lived with it and was miserable. It wasnt till several years later i chose to be vegan for moral reasons. After just a couple days all my symptoms had vanished and felt amazing!!! My vegan diet made it completly go away where medication did nothing. Loving my vegan life going on 4 years now !!! -
The Peoples Kitchen Gluten FREE is the way to go!! Lots of Gluten Sensitivity due to the fact that wheat is not grown or processed the way it was back in the day.Gluten free Vegan Journey I was diagnosed with IBS, suffered over 40 years! IAfter going vegan and gluten free, all symptoms disappeared, and never felt better! I honestly dont know if it was gluten or the animal products originally, but gluten sensitivity is an auto immune disease of inflammation, and animal products cause inflammation also. So even if it were only the gluten, going just gluten free would not have done the trick, but being vegan also does work!
Don't Fear the Vegan 
My thoughts are simple…by chance I had read the China Study…Being 75 years old and feeling well the China Study made a lot of good sense to me…I wanted to loose a few pounds and thought a change in how I ate to Vegan could do the trick….Well it has been two years now and I have lost 12 pounds with no effort AND even though I thought I was feeling very well prior to changing my eating habits to Vegan, I now know I could feel even better…AND I DO…
My wife has IBS and I am trying to get her to see the value in giving the Vegan way a try…Nothing to loose (well maybe some extra weight) and everything to gain…
I’m glad vegan has been good for you! Thanks for sharing!
A vegan diet is not an automatic cure for IBS. While dairy can be an IBS trigger food for those with a lactose intolerance, most of the triggee foods ARE plant based: beans, wheat, certain fruits and vegetables. The best diet for those with IBS (particularly IBS-D) is the FODMAP “diet”. As for the comments regarding gluten, while gluten sensitivity could be an issue, for most people with IBS, it’s the fructans in wheat and not gluten that is the problem.
A vegan diet is not necessarily an automatic cure for IBS. One needs to understand why certain foods trigger symptoms. While dairy can be an IBS trigger food for those with a lactose intolerance, most of the trigger foods ARE plant based: beans, wheat, certain fruits and vegetables. The best diet for those with IBS (particularly IBS-D) is the FODMAP “diet”. As for the comments regarding gluten, while gluten sensitivity could be an issue, for most people with IBS, it’s the fructans in wheat and not gluten that is the problem.
Sorry but that’s not accurate for everyone. I tried the new fad FODMAP diet for a long time to help with my ibs and it did nothing. After going vegan it fixed it almost entirely. Everyone is different, don’t go around telling people what you don’t actually know.
This *is* what I know because this is what helped me. I have IBS-D, and most people with “typical” IBS-D (not so much if constipation is their problem), have problems digesting certain carbs. I tried veganism, and the added nuts, whole grains and legumes made me really sick.
This *is* what I actually know. I have IBS-D. It’s different for IBS-C, but in most “typical” cases of IBS-D, it’s a problem with digesting certain carbs and insoluble fiber. I got worse on a vegan diet and better on a low FODMAPs diet.
I had been vegan for 8 months, IBS under control. I had a flareup that I couldn’t beat, using methods that have been successful in the past. It started soon after the November 2016 election. I can’t know if that’s the cause; it’s unknowable. I’ve had some success on a low FODMAPs diet, but it’s easy to make mistakes. I pay dearly for mine. Low FODMAPs diet is supposed to be done with the help of a doctor and registered dietitian. I don’t believe my doctor knows anything about IBS or low FODMAPs. Tonight I found myself considering animal products for protein, because many protein plant food are limited on low FODMAPs. Not eliminated, just limited. I wish I could get some help with this. It’s hard to figure out how to put together a vegan, low fodmaps diet. I need to lose weight also, so that complicated things even more.
The “FODMAP” diet did nothing for me. Going vegan is what has helped me tremendously.
That’s great that the vegan worked for you. A wheat-free FODMAP diet works great for me. I have a friend who can’t digest meat, so that was the cause of her IBS symptoms. But a simple Google search will show you that, for many people, going vegan actually makes them feel worse with more gas, pain, bloating and diarrhea. It’s never simple to just say, “do this” or “do that.” I just got frustrated with all the “I feel awesome after going vegan” answers when for some people, like myself, we feel worse because our trigger foods are vegan staples.
I “regained” my sense of smell!
Vegetarian —-> vegan (my scalp feels great and skin feels softer, but the best thing is I can smell better – like I just gained a new sense – it is truly an amazing sensation I wanted to cry). I was IBS for a few years and the abdominal pain, distension, flatulence and trips to the bathroom really make you want to change – my only fix was to fast when everything was too much. Vegan is such a switch from vegetarianism – no pizza, no ice cream (dairy) and now I am a label hound and find myself annoying to me. I keep all this veganism to myself because non-vegans have no patience for this talk and get quite defensive about their diet. I am doing it for health reasons and the secondary reasons are so noble.
Thanks for sharing Bill! The sense of smell thing is pretty amazing.
This is so interesting, I found that a lot of my IBS symptoms (mostly constipation, flatulence, bloating, random sudden bouts of diarrhoea) actually started when I began eating more of a strict vegan / vegetarian diet. It got to the point where I was passing wind all the time, had chronic fatigue, bloated so so much, regardless of being pretty much gluten free and of course dairy free, and this has been going on for the last 2 years solidly. It’s only recently that I have decided to have a trial switch back to (for want of a better term) ‘normal’ western diet (still no dairy as diagnosed allergic) but back on fish, eggs and occassionally a small amount of meat. And literally 70% of my problems, including the gas, diarrhoea and abdominal pain have literally all disappeared. As a result, I am definitely not as ‘regular’ as on a vegan diet (which to be honest, i do miss!!), and feel heavier in myself, but at least i am not constantly filled with anxiety about my bathroom behaviour and am able to get on with life again. So it’s a weird one, I really miss the beautiful simplicity of eating only plant foods, so hopefully I will be able to find a balance in future.
Has anyone else found that eating all the beans, pulses and grains commonly associated with a vegan diet makes their digestion worse though? I read somewhere that apparently if they are not soaked/sprouted then they actually cannot be digested by the body hardly at all?
Sorry for the essay… haha it’s nice to hear of everyone’s success stories!!!!
Peace x
Few beans are allowed on a low FODMAPs diet. Limited (1/2 cup) canned lentils and (1/4) canned chick peas are allowed. It is tough getting protein. I rely on tofu and peanuts a lot.
I hope this is going to the whole thread and not just one person. I have had to start completely ignoring my IBS symptoms, dietarily speaking. On an “IBS” diet my diabetes got so out of control I almost had to start taking insulin. I switched back to a more “healthy” diet of lots of raw veggies, whole meats (a LOT of chicken) and stop all rice, pastas, breads, cereal grains, etc. I still can’t do many nuts due to the IBS, but I do a few. I also eat a small amount of beans–garbonzo, pinto, kidney and white. My stomach is hugely bloated about 2 clothing sizes above what I normally wear, but my diabetes has almost reversed. A vegan diet is just not an option for me. Grains are bad for me, both for diabetes and auto-immune arthritis disease. I cannot and will not eat soy products, like tofu. Soy is very hard on the thyroid and very bad for women as it mimics estrogen and can interfere with our reproductive system and put us at higher risk for cancer. Soy, in regular daily consumption is not good for most living beings. I won’t give it to my birds, cats or dogs. I’ve had two pets suffer from thyroid disease, one euthanized due to hyperthyroidism and the culprit was found to be the high soy content of their commercial food.
I also have a weakened immune system and find eggs are very helpful protein and have anti-virus properties. I only buy ethically raised meats, eggs and milk (my husband drinks milk, I don’t anymore).
Vegan diet is definitely not for everyone an dI feel like it’s only for people who are already really healthy and can eat anything without a problem. Some people can also live on diets of Wonderbread, mac n’cheese, Mcdonald’s and jelly donuts without too many repercussions. (My 90 year old Grandma for one!). If I did that, I would be dead. If I did a strictly Vegan diet, I would be dead–or at least hospitalized often. I find paleolithic and as much raw as possible (except meats) is the best for me overall, even though it does not control the IBS very well, all the “deadly” diseases I have are much better controlled.
I was diagnosed with IBS over twenty years ago and haven’t been bothered with it until 1 1/2 years ago. Main symptom is the Big D. Constant trips to the bathroom with explosive results are nerve wracking. Have no medical insurance, can’t afford to go see a doctor so checked internet and it said maybe have lactose intolerance. I eliminated lactose. It helped but not enough. Then I became gluten free in case I had sensitivity. That was almost two weeks ago and I still have explosive results. Eating Acitiva for the probiotics but still have problems. Due to moral reasons, went vegan two weeks ago and still have problems. What NEXT????
I believe that with most dietary issues it takes 30 days to get your system clear and see the full results. Not that this will be the complete answer to your problems, but healing the body takes time! Sorry for your pain and suffering!
I know your comment was posted over three years ago, but I recommend getting the Monash University low FODMAPs app and checking everything you put in your mouth against that. It’s not easy; I’ve screwed up many times. But it helps.
Thanks for telling me to give it at least 30 days before I panic. I just didn’t want to have to eliminate anything else for goodness sake. But I must admit, I feel healtheir than I have in years and my face feels softer for some reason. I HAVE to rid myself of the explosions because I’m a caregiver and had two accidents at clients’ homes. Talk about embarassing! The caregiver needs a caregiver kinda thing. (Gotta laugh so I don’t cry). I’ll keep it up. Will let you know how it goes. Thanks for this forum!!!!
My IBS is vindictive!!!I got severe Ibs b4 going vegan and after going vegan my ibs is still severe, It’s been several years. I wish it would help.It’s pure hell. I don’t know what to do. Docs don’t help. They are total a-holes.
Think about oxalic acid found in many plants (i.e. spinach) – it irritates the bodies tissues and causes issues for the kidneys and can kill in high levels (some parts of the rhubarb plant). It is also produced by gut bacteria, which may be why switching to a low-carb diet helps IBS patients (the bacteria feed exclusively on carbs). Starve those bacteria with a low-carb diet. I personally fast when I have the IBS blues because it is the only cure for me (I chew on raw ginger and take peppermint – Pepogest brand). Good luck
A low card diet helps with IBS-D, also the probiotics, a product named glutten cutter,( that helps digestion for those of us that have trouble with glutten containing foods,) and obviously cutting back on fructans, fructose,and sugars helps. The FODMAP diet does help IBS-D , but it needs to be personilized depending on your own particular problems. Some foods in the OK to eat list can trigger problems for me, and I eliminated those from my diet. I love being a vegan for moral reasons, but it
makes it difficult to manage my IBS. I eat tofu, Tempeh, Seitan( most of the irritaing glutten have been removed in the manufactoring process),black beans (and can digest them easily.) and sprouted lentils, mung beans with indian spices, kidney beans that are very well cooked are ok in small amounts. I avoid chick beans like the plague, also avoid avocado, cherries, and minimize onions and garlic.
Its a changelle, but I’m not giving up. There are a lot of good vegan blogs and websites like this one, and a lot of people willing to help.
I follow low carb but it doesn’t help. I eat lots of mint and ginger too.I don’t even eat spinach.
A lot of the foods on a vegan diet aggravate IBS, especially IBS-D (diarrhea). The culprits are generally plant-based foods (with the exception of dairy, which is a trigger for those with lactose intolerance). Check out FODMAP diet.
FODMAP stands for:
Fermentable
Oligosaccharides (eg. Fructans and Galactans)
Disaccharides (eg. Lactose), Monosaccharides (eg. excess Fructose) and
Polyols (eg. Sorbitol, Mannitol, Maltitol, Xylitol and Isomalt)
This is gas-producing stuff found in legumes, wheat (and whole grains are often WORSE), cruciferous veggies, and many other fruits and veggies but the main ones are apples, pears, peaches, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussels sprouts, legumes (beans, lentils, etc), wheat and unfermented soy.
Those who feel better after going vegan likely had either lactose intolerance or issues digesting meats and animal fats but not your typical IBS which tends to get worse on a vegan diet because of the FODMAPs in those foods. I’ve tried going vegan and was in constant pain, gas, bloating, diarrhea, etc.
While I think it’s important to include lots of veggies, etc. in one’s diet (should be the main thing), I do NOT do well getting protein from legumes, tofu, certain nuts, etc. I once ate a bean stew at a friend’s house for dinner, and thankfully I was not working the next day, ’cause I spent most of the day running to the bathroom with explosive diarrhea, pain, gas, bloating. I prefer to eat some fish/seafood for protein. No upset tummy. I also cut out wheat, only have some bread (white) on cheat days. Feel so much better.
Apparently I’m the only person with IBS who can’t eat a vegan diet. I find that my IBS is really irritated by staple vegan foods which are insoluble fiber (whole grains, seeds, nuts, lentils and leafy green veggies). I’ve yet to find someone who can tell me how I can go vegan while being unable to eat 3/4 of the food vegans eat. I’ve been veggie for most of my life and I know meat causes IBS troubles as well but honestly there are some days where I can only digest fish.
I’m really not sure how people are going vegan and finding that their system agrees with the diet because mine doesn’t and I’m at a loss because I can’t eat anything.
No, you’re not the only one. Some people with IBS symptoms have trouble digesting meat, but with classic IBS-D (what I have), it’s certain carbs and all insoluble fiber that is the problem. I wanted to go vegan but got very ill (digestive issues) on that diet. Check out the low FODMAP diet (I explained it in another comment), and see if that helps you.
I’m the same way. I’m really struggling because when I eat strict keto (just meat eggs cheese cream and green veg) all my symptoms are gone! I lose five lbs instantly, no bloating, D, gas, nothing! But I always stop because I hate consuming animals. But then I’m in pain again…
I had to give up grains in addition to going vegan, and I’ve never felt better. I don’t eat much insoluble fibre at all (same as you, it kills me), and it definitely isn’t a requirement for a vegan diet. I found that I can now eat legumes (I couldn’t before) now that I’ve been vegan for a while; your digestive system seems to improve after a while. The trick is to eat legumes and bean on their own. Same with fruit. I also learnt that you can make a meal out of fruit! (And my digestive system loves fruit; so easy to digest!) There are many ways to eat vegan, so give it another try! (Maybe look into raw veganism?) My IBS-C is virtually gone.
Oh, and I should add: stay away from processed foods like vegan meats and crackers and stuff. Stick to whole foods. And don’t worry about eating high protein foods every meal or something (I have trouble digesting even plant protein); if you’re eating enough calories from whole foods, you’re eating enough protein.
I had terrible ibs and after going vegan 5 years ago I still have ibs, though it is less severe. I stopped eating wheat (not all gluten) because it healed my acne. Although going vegan tremendously helped my inflammation problems as well as some other issues, I still suffer ibs. 😦
My daughter became vegan almost three years ago, and that was when her problems started. Now she is feeling worse than ever, and there is almost nothing left for her to eat. She is trying low-fodmap, but still has problems, she can’t eat bread, she can’t eat gluten-free bread, and now we are worrying that she got problems bacause og too much soya.
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Pingback: I just wanna say something I don't see any vegans take into consideration; people with chronic IBS who have to follow the fodmap diet. The vegan fodmap diet is incredibly difficult if not impossible to maintain. So not everyone can be vegan. - VeganB
My IBS-C has GREATLY diminished since going vegan 1.5 years ago. I couldn’t believe it (still can’t); after suffering my whole life, I finally feel amazing! I ended up having to avoid grains for the most part in addition to being vegan (grains bloat me for some reason and sometimes gie me indigestion), but I still occasionally eat rice. And you would be surprised how many non-grain noodles and breads are out there (I love black bean noodles and buckwheat pancakes).
What was your diet for IBS-C? I’m not able to tolerate some vegetables. Initially were you just eating Raw veggies and fruits? I have been doing 80/10/10 and feel good but when I introduce vegetables it seems to cause some motility issues in the morning. Also I do not have good stool. I have bowel movements intermittently. I hope to find out what I eat and cure this thing slowly.
I’m trying to figure out what vegans with IBS can eat? My IBS flares with lots of fiber–mostly insoluble fiber. I’m in a “flare” right now and I can’t eat legumes, cabbages, broccoli, skins on vegetables, green peppers and a lot of other raw veggies, wheat or any whole grains. I don’t eat soy for various health reasons. Not sure how I would live on a vegan diet–no protein? No Vitamin B12 (which only comes from animal sources)–and I have low B12 anyway and I eat plenty of meat. I’m really curious how people with IBS can eat Vegan and be healthy and how they can eat vegan at all as most of the vegan diet is extremely painful to my digestive system.
I’d love to hear about your typical meals. I think I could benefit from giving up grains also. Beans are limited on low FODMAPs, and so are many fruits. I’m struggling.
animaliaprime, I feel your pain. I supplement b12. I have been concerned about getting enough protein on a vegan FODMAPs diet. Beans are limited. Tofu and tempeh are OK. Also, seitan. Which is kind of scary since it’s all gluten. But very versatile and high in protein. Many leafy greens are fine, as are carrots and zucchini, tomatoes, eggplant and many others.
I have been vegan for two weeks. I have IBS-D, I felt so incredible and was taking the best poops of my entire life. Then it hit two days ago. It’s back, HELP.
Is water with fruit ok for IBS?
Is water kefir grains with fruit ok for IBS-C?
It’s great that people are figuring out what works for them. As I learn more about IBS, I realize that this truly is a very personal disease–meaning it’s different for almost every individual. I have found that there are some “rules” that seem to be generalized for IBS, but even within those people differ. I am curious how all the vegans get their Vitamin B12, iron and protein? I am in the category of people who would do worse on a vegan diet. Nuts right now, even tiny amounts or peanut butter cooked into a dish will aggravate me. And I can’t eat soy for various medical reasons. Everything I’ve read about IBS says stay away from legumes. So I can’t imagine where people who are vegan and IBS are getting protein? And do you all take B12 supplements and iron supplements?
I’ve had IBS for most of my adult life–but it never bothered me much until this last year. I am mixed constipation and diarrhea, but I seem to have “flares” and then it goes away. Well, this year it settled in and I gained 2 dress/pant sizes almost overnight! I had been taking digestive enzymes for a about 3+ years and my new primary doctor said I shouldn’t be taking them–without looking properly at my medical history. She didn’t want anyone on them, so she took me off—THAT’S when all the problems started. I have several other chronic health conditions so I thought at first the “8 months pregnant” belly was due to something else more sinister.
I’m wondering if anyone else with IBS takes regular digestive enzymes–they help me tremendously. Also, I have been eating a LOT of “roughage”, lots of salads full of raw veggies, lots of cabbage and brussels sprouts and broccoli–I know, ouch!! Well when I figured out this might be IBS related I did a low fiber/low residue diet for 2 weeks and my belly just melted away. Now I’m on a more IBS type diet and the belly is still 75% better than it was at it’s peak. I cheat now and again and pay the price. But since I was used to such a healthy, high fiber diet I was feeling nutritionally deficient so I started juicing. I now drink at least 2 cups of vegetable juice per day (at least 5 or more different vegetables all juiced together) and it’s really helping. I get all the soluble fiber, vitamins and minerals from the veggies, but none of the insoluble “roughage”. I eat plenty of “safe” veggies too–green beans, beets, carrots, parsnips and zucchini. I am still able to eat meats, if they are not too fatty. Chicken is my staple and pork tenderloin works well too. Beef unfortunately is not treating me well and I LOVE ground beef so I’m crying about that one (meatloaf and meatballs and burger patties–yum!) And my beloved garlic and onions have gone by the wayside, so I take daily probiotic capsules now to keep my gut healthy.
Has anyone else tried juicing and had good results–and digestive enzymes?
Love that this article is still getting more information attached to it!
I also take aloe juice now religiously. And in weird irony, the stuff from Walgreens works much better for me than the expensive stuff from health food stores! I tried Slippery Elm and didn’t see much result and psyllium makes me bloat really bad and have mucho pain. But I eat a LOT of oats now–mostly in the form of dry cheerios as my main snack food. They really help. I am also diabetic and had been avoiding all grains and carbs for a couple years–now I’m finding I need some oats and rice in my diet to help with the IBS. But Soy has been a STRICT no-no for me for years due to hypothyroidism and the fact that I think soy is just evil for women to ingest. 🙂
Reading the comments I must point out that raw food is hard to digest so some ibs sufferers will find all or some raw food really bad for them. As well as most pulses, cruciferous vegetables, possibly some seeds etc which does make being vegan hard. Each person has different triggers but I find that addressing the underlying causes like stress leaky gut etx helps expand the food range. So had to give an answer..
I suffered terribly for 10 years and was diagnosed with Irritable bowel syndrome ( the gastro specialist said that is what they call it , when they can’t diagnose it!) Nothing they offered helped. Then I changed to a vegan/ vegetarian diet for moral reasons, 10 years ago, and have had no more symptoms since😀! Happier and healthier than ever now!